Nahrain gears up for BC test

Nahrain: In good form ahead of BC run

Trainer Roger Varian reports Nahrain in top shape as she bids to go one better than last year in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Friday.

The daughter of Selkirk showed great form this time in 2011, winning the Prix de l'Opera before going down by just three-quarters of a length to Perfect Shirl in this race.

And she demonstrated her well-being by landing the Flower Bowl at Belmont in late September.

"She came back a few days after the Flower Bowl at Belmont and we've been very pleased with her," said the Newmarket trainer.

"Hopefully she is ready to mount a strong challenge in Santa Anita.

"I was pleased she backed up her Group One win last year with one this year.

"There's every chance she's just an autumn filly and she really blossoms at that time.

"It will be different conditions but she showed last year she is versatile."

"She is quite tough and a mature filly so I'm sure she'll run very well."

I'm A Dreamer was only beaten a length in fourth in the Flower Bowl and her trainer David Simcock is expecting another big run.

He said: "It will be the first time she's raced on what we hope is proper fast ground since she won the Dahlia Stakes last year.

"She's very consistent and rarely runs a bad race

"She needs things to fall right and needs plenty of luck in Santa Anita."

Up has a victory over Nahrain to her credit at the Curragh in September.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien feels she has plenty going for her.

"She loves fast ground and a mile and a quarter suits her well. She's a hardy filly and we always thought this race would suit her," said the Ballydoyle handler.

"She loves the travelling, loves the fast ground, loves the atmosphere out there and loves going left as well."

The Fugue runs in this race instead of another engagement on Saturday and her trainer John Gosden is happy with her condition.

He said: "She got caught in that monsoon summer storm at York (in the Yorkshire Oaks) she didn't much like.

"She also held an entry in the turf race on the Saturday over the mile and a half against the colts and older horses.

"She's in good form."

French trainer Mikel Delzangles also has high hopes for Ridasiyna, who has won four of her five races, including this season's Prix de l'Opera.

He said: "Although she won in the soft last time, I think she will handle the faster conditions.

"We will try to use the same tactics as at Longchamp when she won the Prix de l'Opera.

"My one concern is we don't want a slowly-run race."